Editorial October-2001

The marching season generally has been a success, as a community
our bands grow stronger and the loyal orders continue to be the backbone of our
communities throughout Northern Ireland. The bands in particular are a superb
advert for our community and our culture. The uniforms and colour parties are a
credit to the various bands as well as the excellent band websites, which send
our message worldwide. There has been a downside to the season however.

Communities/Culture Under Attack

The season was ruined to an extent by the ongoing republican onslaught against
our community and our culture. We think of parades, which have been attacked in
East Belfast, Ardoyne and Maghera to name but a few. Of course our ongoing
support is extended to our friends in Portadown who have been denied the right
to return home from church.

Some of our communities have suffered more than most. Our thoughts go out to the
communities in White City (where young Thomas McDonald was tragically killed),
Upper Ardoyne (Glenbryn), Twadell Avenue, Maghera, the Fountain, (still under
siege), Madrid Street (Protestant pensioners petrol bombed in their homes) and
of course Tigers Bay. These communities have suffered at the hands of
republicans for many months now, houses have been attacked, woman and children
shot at and young loyalists attacked regularly.

Tigers Bay for example has been under constant attack from republicans for most
of this year. The attacks can happen at anytime, on the sound of the siren
telling the residents that they are under attack; they have to stop what they
are doing and defend their own area. This happens several times per week. During
the past few months Tigers Bay has come under attack on perhaps as many as 10
occasions from gunfire. Guns that are supposedly silent, guns that belong to an
organisation that is on ceasefire, guns that belong to an organisation that has
responsibility for the health and education of the people of Northern Ireland.
These gunmen tried to murder a Grandmother and her Granddaughter, shot and
seriously injured a young Protestant, yet the Secretary of State is of the
opinion that this organisation is on ceasefire. One wonders how he reached that
conclusion?

Areas like those listed above (and others) deserve our support as they defend
their areas against the ongoing intimidation of republicans. Some of you reading
this do not live in an interface area and perhaps do not appreciate the pressure
these communities are under. It is ongoing and they receive little sympathy from
a biased press. They deserve our full support.

It is essential that the old phrase "what we have we hold" applies everywhere
from Londonderry to Newry, from Kilkeel to Strabane and of course in our own
backyard in Madrid street.

Press Coverage - Schools

Compare the coverage given by the media to the Holy Cross situation with the
situation at Currie Primary school on the Limestone Road (Tigers Bay). The
parents and children at that school come under attack from republicans from
Newington. The teachers cars are damaged by republicans from Newington. What
coverage do the press give to the latter? The answer very little. The same
applies to the children attending the Boys/Girls Model schools. Their buses are
attacked; children are injured and taken to hospital. They are scarred both
physically and mentally. The coverage given to that is pretty poor compared to
the daily bulletins from Holy Cross. Indeed one station tried to play it down.
The fact is that Protestant school children have to travel through areas where
they are not welcome, they get stoned, injured and treated in hospital yet the
press continue to ignore our children and play up the Holy Cross situation. Why?

Getting the Message Across

There is little doubt that we need to get our message across to the outside
world. When it suits them republicans conjure up a spokesperson from anywhere. A
certain Mr Kelly in particular, his daily broadcasts are getting tiresome. The
BBC/UTV newsrooms should hang their heads in shame. The question must be asked
where are our spokespeople? Where are our politicians? Nigel Dodds and Billy
Hutchinson excepted. The rest should hang their heads in shame. They must get
their act together and represent the people they are getting paid to represent.
Our message needs to be heard and the press should seek out our representatives
and give equal coverage to our problems not just the republican perspective.

Upper Ardoyne - Glenbryn

On the internet I am pleased to report that the Loyalist cause is alive and well.
There are a number of excellent sites on the net. I recommend one site in
particular. For the full details of events in the current dispute in North
Belfast between republicans and residents of Glenbryn visit the following site www.crua.8k.com.

Our culture remains strong and with the help of Loyalists throughout the UK and
further a field our culture must and will grow stronger.

For God and Ulster - Union Jack Shop.